The third ribosomal tRNA-binding site, the E site, is occupied in native polysomes

The nucleic acids of Escherichia coli cells were uniformly labelled with 32P by growing the cells in [32P]orthophosphoric acid for about four generations. The cells were harvested in the logarithmic phase, resuspended in a buffer containing 6 mM Mg2+, 150 mM NH4+ and polyamines and incubated for 3 min at 37 degrees C in the presence of 3H-labelled amino acids. This procedure preferentially labels growing peptidyl chains. Polysomes were isolated, the fraction in the post-translocational state was assessed by a puromycin reaction and the tRNA content/70S ribosome was quantified in comparison to the amount of 5S rRNA determined after separation by gel electrophoresis. The data revealed that at least 75% of post-translocational ribosomes in isolated native polysomes carry a tRNA in their E site. The results are consistent with the allosteric three-site model for the elongation cycle but disagree with the two-site model.     

Protein L16 of the Escherichia coli ribosome: possible role in protein biosynthesis

We show that Escherichia coli 50S ribosomal subunits depleted of protein L16 can nevertheless catalyze the transfer of the peptide moiety from fMet-tRNA to puromycin, being, however, unable to use a fragment CACCA-Phe as an acceptor substrate. On the other hand, we found that protein L16 as well as its large fragment (amino acids 10-136) both interact with tRNA in solution (Kd approximately 10(-7) M). Moreover, L16 interacts with CACCA-Phe in solution as well as protects 3' end of tRNA from the enzymatic degradation. We suggest that L16, although not being the peptidyl transferase as such, is involved in the binding of the 3' end cytidines of tRNA into the ribosomal A site.     

An endonuclease cleavage map of the plasmid pWWO-8, a derivative of the TOL plasmid of Pseudomonas putida mt-2.

Summary Cleavage sites on the pWWO-8 plasmid were determined for the restriction endonucleases HindIII and XhoI. Terminal labelling using DNA polymerase I was particularly useful both for the characterisation of the smaller cleavage products and for confirmation of the order of fragments in the intact plasmid.     

Stimulation of peptidyltransferase activity of 50S subunits by alcohols

We have demonstrated that in certain conditions 50S subunits can transfer peptide moiety from peptidyl-tRNA to puromycin in the absence of alcohol. Monovalent cations NH4+ and K+ support this reaction, while Na+ and Li+ are ineffective. Optimal concentration for NH4+ is 1.8 M. Mg2+ ion concentrations above 12 mM are needed as well as an elevated temperature (30 degrees C). Using the alcohol-free puromycin reaction of 50S subunits we show that alcohol activates the peptidyl transferase center, but does not participate in the puromycin reaction. Neither does it change the protein composition of subunits.